Experience with SoulNote Dac2?

@zlone - Thanks for reaching out. 

As I've purchased and tinkered with all these audio components, I've really come to realize the importance of collective synergy. I'd made the mistake in the past of piling on warm components with a laid back speaker (QLN Prestige 3) and realized I wanted more drive and energy. 

I selected the Soulnote D2, based on what I'd read in reviews, for exactly that purpose. I'm super happy with it. I've only had the Merason Dac 1 MKII and the Mola Mola Dac in my system to test. I'd say the Soulnote hits the sweet spot between the two. It's lively and has rich tonality. It's never, ever bright, but has wonderful micro and macro shading. I don't really see myself looking for another DAC. If I come into some more cash, I might buy the Mola Mola as a change of pace, but I feel like I'd miss the Soulnote D2 for it's musicallity. 

I just purchased a pair of AGD Audion MKIII which I'll pair with the Linear Tube Audio Level 2 Preamp, QLN speakers, Soulnote D2, and the Innous Pulsar. I suspect this will be the main reference system in my living room for a long time. 

BTW, I moved the Merason Dac1 MKII into my office paired with a Grypon 120 integrated and it sounds fantastic. It didn't sound as great (too soft) with a EL34 tube amp. 

How is your system coming along? What's working? What are you looking to change up? 

@bluethinker Thanks for the update and I am glad it is going well. I have found similar results going from the Merason to the Bricasti M3 coupled with the QLN 3 speakers. It was too much of a good thing and the Bricasti brought a much more incisive sound, not bright, but more detailed and crystal clear. No ding against Merason by any means, a very musical DAC, but not the best fit with QLN.

I am looking up the Bricasti chain now, likely the M1. It might just be implementation of inputs on the Bricasti, but I have found the network interface as a Roon endpoint to far surpass USB and SPDIF. It sort of limits my DAC choices going forward though. There are some D2's out there at a reasonable price, and I was toying with the idea, but I would have to add a streamer to my existing server. 

As a recommended tweak, I had very good results adding a Stack Regenerator in front of my server. It really cleans things up.

Happy Listening!

@udhasfan - Thank you! 
 

@zlone - I realize I have not addressed the question of how the SoulNote d2 paired with the QLN prestige 3. In brief, the SoulNote d2 absolutely woke up the QLN speakers. I’m running the SoulNote D2 with two amps. Am AGD audion mkiii and a Qualiton p200 tube amp. Both sound great with the Soulnote D2 with the QLN speakers. The sound? It’s lively, spacious and nicely detailed with lots of leading edge energy compared to the Merason. 

I noticed on another thread you might be considering other speakers than QLN. How is your audio journey going? Any speakers under consideration? 

@bluethinker Thanks for following, I am happy to hear you have found good synergy with the SoulNote and the QLN speakers. As noted in my post above, I had similar results changing from Merason to Bricasti.

Yes, I have been trying out some new speakers as noted in another thread. I am currently running a pair of Studio Electric M4’s. These are excellent speakers, and very different in sound from the Qln’s, notably faster in the mids and highs, without being bright. It has made me think I really don’t want warm speakers. I am also considering a pair of Marten Oscar Duo’s.

I have yet to plug the Qln’s back in, that will be a telling moment.

I too am looking for a DAC upgrade, but my ears seem to like R2R more than Delta Sigma.  I have currently have Mola Mola Tambaqui and the Mearsom DAC1 mk2 and the Denafrips Venus 15th on top of my list.